Distracted Driving, Particularly Cell Phone Use is Top Cause of Fatal Car Accidents in Many States

Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous forms of driver error which consistently causes accidents that result in the injury of innocent residents. Distracted driving happens when a driver’s attention is taken away from the primary task of driving, making him/her fail to operate his/her vehicle properly and so commit traffic infractions that result in an accident. Driver error is often unintentional, but it can be extremely damaging when it occurs.

A driver can be distracted in many different ways. Some of the most common forms of distraction while behind the wheel include eating and/or drinking, adjusting the radio, smoking, applying make-up, grooming, conversing with a passenger, driving while angry or while lost in thoughts, looking at a road map, adjusting GPS coordinates, and texting or using a hand-held phone, which is now the most dangerous form of distracted driving.

The expansion of smartphone functions and wider use of social media platforms, however, have only worsened cell phone use as these have only introduced new forms of distractions which also lead to more harmful results. Besides texting and conversing, new smartphone functions now allow drivers to send emails, take photos, shoot videos, conduct video chats, and use Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or Snapchat.

In some states, distracted driving, particularly cell phone use, has been the top cause of fatal car crashes. These crashes, according to Houston car accident lawyers at Williams Kherkher, are terrifying and often overwhelming ordeals which, in many instances, leave victims with extensive medical bills and other expenses, lost wages from work, long-term disability, and major lifestyle and family-life changes.

In 2013, distraction-related crashes took the lives of 3,154 individuals and injured 424,000 others. In 2014, data from distraction.gov, the Official U.S. Government website for distracted driving, show increases in both counts: 3,179 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in crashes that involved distracted drivers.

With regard to car accidents, all personal injury lawyers have the same conviction: victims should pursue legal action against the party responsible for their losses, while at-fault drivers should be legally required to compensate their victim.